High-ankle sprain for Florida PG Scottie Wilbekin

The Florida Gators announced Tuesday that while X-rays on his injured right ankle came back negative, senior point guard Scottie Wilbekin will be sidelined indefinitely with a high-ankle sprain he suffered in the closing minutes of Florida’s 65-64 loss to UConn on Monday night in Storrs, CT.

Wilbekin, who missed the first five games of the regular season due to suspension, has only played in three contests this season but nevertheless led the Gators with averages of 35.7 minutes and 5.7 assists per game, both career-highs. He was also averaging a career-best 11.3 points per contest despite shooting just 37.1 percent from the field.

This latest injury leaves Florida without a healthy point guard on its roster. Freshman sensation Kasey Hill, who started the Gators’ first four games, suffered a high-ankle sprain of his own on Nov. 18 against Southern and was ruled out for a month.

Wilbekin was not given a timetable for his injury, and it certainly did not look as serious on film as Hill’s appeared to be two weeks ago. The school also announced after Monday’s game that Wilbekin left the arena without the use of a boot or crutches, while Hill had a boot on his foot for an entire week following his injury.

With Florida not playing for seven more days – No. 6 Kansas comes to town on Dec. 10 – it would be unwise to rule out either Wilbekin or Hill for the Gators’ next contest.

Head coach Billy Donovan and Florida’s trainers are notorious for exaggerating the severity of injuries – or at least placing extra-long timetables on recovery.

Wilbekin was also seen at his brother’s high school basketball game walking without a limp. Hill is set to begin participating in individual drills this week.

Should neither Wilbekin nor Hill suit up next Tuesday, the Gators will only have six scholarship players healthy enough to see the court assuming sophomore guard DeVon Walker (sprained foot) is recovered in time.

Junior G Eli Carter is still recovering from a broken fibula he suffered last February and has been designated as a redshirt candidate. Sophomore G Dillon Grahahm underwent season-ending surgery to alleviate pain due to bone spurs in his hips and will also take a redshirt. Redshirt junior center Damontre Harris is currently off the team and trying to work his way back from a variety of issues.